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Illinois Football: Local defensive lineman announces Illini official visit

By Collin Allen

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 23: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts to a play against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 23, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 23: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts to a play against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 23, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema and the coaching staff have a major opportunity to make a quality pitch to a local monstrous defensive lineman.

2023 three-star defensive lineman Roderick “Trey” Pierce announced on Friday that the Illini will receive his first official visit, which will take place June 17-19.

https://twitter.com/trey2023_/status/1525270964229091330?s=21&t=a5bi4xtowrWd7i0zuG7XrQ

Pierce is a 6-foot-3, 290-pound interior defensive lineman attending Brother Rice High School in Oak Lawn, IL. He is ranked the No. 106 defensive lineman in the nation and the No. 23 recruit in Illinois by 247sports.

Aside from the Illini, Pierce has accumulated 17 other offers from schools such as Iowa State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Purdue, Wisconsin, and others.

As of right now, it looks like Illinois is the only official visit Pierce has scheduled.

What would the Illinois football team be getting with a commitment from Roderick Pierce?

The Illinois native is more than capable of bulldozing his way into the backfield as soon as the ball is snapped, per his junior season tape. In addition to racking up tackles-for-loss and sacks in the backfield, Pierce’s speed, length, and hustle make him a proficient pursuit tackler.

With a commitment, the Illini would be gifted a player who will hustle from snap to whistle every single play.

Pierce would also be the third player to commit to the Illini’s 2023 class, joining 4-star athlete Kaden Feagin and 3-star linebacker Antwon Hayden.

Illinois currently sits with the No. 56 class in the nation for 2023. Two top 800 recruits in Feagin and Hayden is a great start, but adding players like Pierce would continue the build-out the class.

Adding Pierce to the Illinois roster would also mean adding depth to the defensive line. Bielema didn’t add a defensive lineman from the 2022 class, so having someone like Pierce come into the program would be crucial. He would be a welcomed addition to the Orange and Blue.

Next. Illini trying to get into the mix for a top 150 recruit. dark

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